pposing powers of
attraction and repulsion were so evenly balanced that any violent
atmospheric disturbance affected him in the same way that thistledown
is affected by a summer breeze. He had noticed something of this
before, but whenever a strong wind was blowing he was accustomed to
rise to a position above the air currents. This was the first time he
had slept with the indicator at zero.

The huge birds at once renewed their attack, but Rob had now recovered
his wits sufficiently to draw the electric tube from his pocket. The
first one to dart towards him received the powerful electric current
direct from the tube, and fell stunned and fluttering to the surface of
the sea, where it floated motionless. Its mate, perhaps warned by this
sudden disaster, renewed its circling flight, moving so swiftly that
Rob could scarcely follow it, and drawing nearer and nearer every
moment to its intended victim. The boy could not turn in the air very
quickly, and he feared an attack in the back, mistrusting the saving
power of the Garment of Repulsion under such circumstances; so in
desperation he pressed his finger upon the button of the tube and
whirled the instrument around his head in the opposite direction to
that in which the monster was circling. Presently the current and the
bird met, and with one last scream the creature tumbled downwards to
join its fellow upon the waves, where they lay like two floating
islands.

Their presence had left a rank, sickening stench in the surrounding
atmosphere, so Rob made haste to resume his journey and was soon moving
rapidly eastward.

He could not control a shudder at the recollection of his recent
combat, and realized the horror of a meeting with such creatures by one
who had no protection from their sharp beaks and talons.

"It's no wonder the Japs draw ugly pictures of those monsters," he
thought. "People who live in these parts must pass most of their lives
in a tremble."

The sun was now shining brilliantly, and when the beautiful islands of
Japan came in sight Rob found that he had recovered his wonted
cheerfulness. He moved along slowly, hovering with curious interest
over the quaint and picturesque villages and watching the industrious
Japanese patiently toiling at their tasks. Just before he reached
Tokio he came to a military fort, and for nearly an hour watched the
skilful maneuvers of a regiment of soldiers at their morning drill.
They were not very big peopl